WHAT BOLSONARO PRESIDENCY
IN BRAZIL MEANS FOR INDIA
BY ARAVIND KRISHNAN*
B
razilians last year elected right leaning candidate
Jair Messias Bolsonaro as the next President of
Brazil. A quick internet search leads to hundreds of
articles, most of them criticizing Bolsonaro but a deep dive
into his election manifestation this year and his proposed
policies reveals that his conservative social views have been
exaggerated and are secondary to his interest in rebuilding
the Brazilian economy.
Bolsonaro has promised that he will be the face of change
for Brazil. He has also promised that he will put Latin
America’s largest economy back on the right track. Some of
his ideas include implementation of pro-business policies,
privatization of select public companies, reducing crime, and
bringing down taxes. All these are positive signs not only for
Brazil but also for countries with strong relationships with
Brazil. One among them is India. Trade between India and
Brazil stands at USD 8.57 billion, recovering from a slump
in 2015–16 and 2016–17 because of the economic slowdown
in Brazil.
India-Brazil trade stats.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India
These numbers will likely grow in the near future as a
result of the expected business-friendly policies of both Jair
Bolsonaro in Brazil and Narendra Modi in India. Brazil is one
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 4 • April-May 2019, Noida • 51